Page 65 of Water's Edge

Larry and Clay exchange a look. Larry looks for Clay to take the question.

“The bodies were scrubbed clean,” he says. “I meanscrubbed. There were some minute abrasions in the skin around the knees, feet, hands, elbows, and butt. We called them scuff marks. Our pathologist used a magnifying glass to examine every inch of skin. We found two carpet fibers embedded in Dina’s left elbow. Larry said the same scuff marks were on Margie, but the pathologist didn’t find anything of note. He called the pathologist after we talked about the possibility of the killer scrubbing down the areas, and the pathologist said—”

Larry cuts Clay off. “He said he didn’t remember. It had been over a year ago, but I remembered so he should have. I don’t think he wanted to be embarrassed for missing it.”

“Can we get a reexamination of the body, Larry?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Cremated.”

“Same with Dina,” Clay adds.

I excuse myself and phone Sheriff Gray in the space over by the copier. It is past quitting time, but I know he’ll still answer his cell.

“I was just heading out,” he says. “Got something for me?”

I ask him to contact a judge or whomever he needs to talk to and make sure Leann’s body isn’t released to the family yet.

“I need a specific reason for a court order,” he says.

“Carpet fibers,” I tell him. “We’re looking for carpet fibers.”

Thirty-Two

I come back to the circle and Larry’s rubbing his ample belly.

“Can we get something to eat?” he asks.

“I know you had burgers and fries before you got here,” Clay says. “I can still smell them on you.” He says this jokingly, but we haven’t been working on this for two hours, even.

“How ’bout you gals?” Larry asks. “There’s a Thai place next door.” He pronounces Thai like “thigh.”

Ronnie, who had a salad for lunch with a glass of water, chirps, “I like Thai.”

“Well, hell!” Larry says loudly. “Who don’t like thigh?”

“I’m allergic to Thai food,” I lie. I don’t want to eat because I want to get done here and I’m supposed to meet Dan in a couple of hours at Hops Ahoy. “It’s right next door, so maybe you could order something. We have to get back to the office.”

Clay looks disappointed. He narrows his brow. “What’s your hurry? I’m sure Tony won’t mind if you both just head to Port Townsend when we’re done.”

I don’t give him a look, but I wonder how he knows we both live in Port Townsend. I didn’t know Ronnie lived there until I took her home. Jefferson County is a big place, and the Sheriff’s Office is in Port Hadlock.

“Sheriff expects a report on his desk first thing, and he’s an early bird.”

That’s my story and I make a vow to stick to it.

“You’ve got our reports,” Larry says. “I’m starving. I always eat before six because I have stomach issues and acid reflux. If I wait much longer, I won’t be able to get to bed until midnight.”

I’m glad when Clay steps in.

“Let’s get done and I’ll buy you dinner, Larry.”

I flip through my notes. I want to go and check out the crime scenes for myself, but I don’t want to take a boat to San Juan Island. I have the pictures. I need to know who their witnesses are and if they believed them. Their opinions were never in the reports.

“I need to go down your list of people you talked to. Ronnie sent my reports and they are up-to-date. Except for the DNA I got today, and I just told you about that. You’ve got my crime scene reports.”

“I was with Mindy for most of that,” Ronnie says.

Clay gives me a questioning look. “Mindy?”

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